New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘DONGITARESTAR’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Dongitarestar’ characterized by its upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; large, glossy and very dark green-colored leaves with dark red-colored lower surfaces; freely and early flowering habit; large red and light red bi-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DONGITARESTAR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dongitarestar’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Koka, Ethiopia and Encinitas, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new early and freely flowering New Guinea Impatiens plants with attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in November, 2015 in Koka, Ethiopia of a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN13-002477-003, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN13-000084-001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. in April, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. since June, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylight and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dongitarestar’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dongitarestar’ as a new and distinct Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly         mounding plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Large, glossy and very dark green-colored leaves with dark         red-colored lower surfaces.     -   5. Freely and early flowering habit.     -   6. Large red and light red bi-colored flowers.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are not as vigorous as plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Flower petals of plants of the new Impatiens are flat whereas         flower petals of plants of the female parent selection are         undulating and ruffled in appearance.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are red and light red         bi-colored whereas flowers of plants of the female parent         selection are dark violet pink and pink bi-colored.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are red and light red         bi-colored whereas flowers of plants of the male parent         selection are dark red and light pink bi-colored.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Duepetrest’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,375. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Duepetrest’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more vigorous than and not as         compact as plants of ‘Duepetrest’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Duepetrest’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are red and light red         bi-colored whereas flowers of plants of ‘Duepetrest’ are soft         red and light lavender bi-colored.

Plants of the new Impatiens can also be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,462. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens flowers about one week earlier         than plants of ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are red and light red         bi-colored whereas flowers of plants of ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’         are red purple and light red purple bi-colored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (sheet 1 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dongitarestar’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (sheet 2 of 2) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dongitarestar’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter and spring in 20-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial New Guinea Impatiens production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 26° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 4,500 to 5,500 lux. Plants were 18 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2017 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Dongitarestar’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN13-002477-003, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN13-000084-001, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to             seven days at day temperatures about 27° C. and night             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at day temperatures about 27° C.             and night temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to somewhat outwardly             spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; broad inverted             triangle in overall shape; freely branching habit; bushy and             dense appearance; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth             habit and moderate to rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 36 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 57 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching with about 14 to 16             primary lateral branches each with multiple secondary             branches.         -   Length.—About 29 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 8.5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading, about 45°             from vertical.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 146A tinged with close to 187A.         -   Color, developed.—Close to 146A slightly tinged with close             to 187A; at the internodes, close to 187A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Typically in whorls or opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 12 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.25 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Long acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate with ciliation.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth to             slightly rugose, glabrous; glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A to             darker green than 147A. Developing leaves, lower surface:             Close to 187A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker             green than N189A; venation, close to 187A. Fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Close to 187A; venation, close to             187A.         -   Petiole length.—About 6.1 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Petiole texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 187A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single axillary flowers             that are roughly rectangular in shape; freely flowering             habit, typically about four to five opening and fully opened             flowers per lateral branch; flowers are mostly flat and             positioned above and beyond the foliar plane, flowers             typically face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about four to seven             days on the plant under greenhouse conditions; petals             self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions; in the garden, flowering from spring until fall             in California; early flowering habit, plants typically begin             flowering about twelve weeks from unrooted cuttings.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.75 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat             glossy Color: Close to 53A.         -   Flower diameter.—Large, about 7 cm by 6.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a             single whorl with one banner petal, two lateral petals and             two lower petals. Length, banner petal: About 3.1 cm.             Length, lateral petals: About 4.5 cm. Length, lower petals:             About 3.2 cm. Width, banner petal: About 3.5 cm. Width,             lateral petals: About 3.5 cm. Width, lower petals: About             3.2 cm. Shape, banner petals: Broadly cordate. Shape,             lateral and lower petals: Cordate. Apex, all petals:             Cordate. Base, all petals: Attenuate. Margin, all petals:             Entire, not undulate. Texture and luster, all petals, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat glossy;             iridescent. Color, all petals: When opening, upper surface:             Center, close to 45A; towards the margins, close to 55B.             When opening, lower surface: Close to between 42A and 43A.             Fully opened, upper surface: Center, close to between 42A             and 45A; towards the margins, close to 55A to 55B; venation,             similar to lamina; light red coloration becomes more             dominant with development. Fully opened, lower surface:             Close to between 42A and 43A; venation, similar to lamina;             colors do not change with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl;             two laterals are opposite and the third modified into an             elongated spur. Lateral sepal length: About 1.1 cm. Lateral             sepal width: About 5 mm. Lateral sepal shape: Narrowly             deltoid. Lateral sepal apex: Long acuminate. Lateral sepal             base: Truncate, fused. Lateral sepal margin: Entire. Lateral             sepal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; somewhat glossy. Lateral sepal color, upper             surface: Close to 55B to 55C. Lateral sepal color, lower             surface: Close to 53A. Spur length: About 3.7 cm. Spur             diameter: At flower, about 3 mm; at apex, less than 1 mm.             Spur shape: Acicular, curved. Spur texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; somewhat glossy. Spur color: Close to             145A, proximally tinged with close to 53A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: About 30° to 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong;             flexible. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             glossy. Color: Close to 144A to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Filament length: About 4 mm.             Filament color: Close to 158A. Anther length: About 4 mm.             Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to N155B. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158A. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Stigma             shape: Crested. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Style length:             About 4 mm. Style color: Close to 144A. Ovary color: Close             to 144A and 187A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not             been observed on plants of the new Impatiens. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Impatiens     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Impatiens plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging     from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Dongitarestar’ as illustrated and described. 